Wimbledon 2013: Andy Murray insists friendship with Novak Djokovic will be put on hold in bid to achieve first SW19 title

Andy says friendship with Djokovic has cooled since they became such big rivals on court (Image: Getty Images)

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ANDY MURRAY insists he’ll put his friendship with Novak Djokovic on hold in a bid to achieve his Wimbledon dream.

The two best players in the world have always been close and the Scot is just a week older than his Serbian foe.

Their careers have run in tandem since they went to the same training camps and crossed swords in junior tennis.

Given they’ve established one of the biggest rivalries in sport, Murray believes there is too much at stake for them to stay pals.

On Centre Court this afternoon the 26-year-old from Dunblane will square up to Djokovic as he attempts to end Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion.

And the US Open champion is adamant nothing can be allowed to interfere with his quest for sporting immortality.

He said: “We have a personal friendship. When we were younger it was more friendly, whereas now it is different although I still message him sometimes.

“We’ve spent a lot of time discussing various issues within tennis and doing what we think is best for the sport. I don’t think it goes more than that right now. I would hope when we finish playing it will be different.

“It’s hard because we are playing in big, big matches with a lot on the line. You can’t be best of friends when that is happening.”

Djokovic leads their head-to-head battle 11-7 although Murray beat him in the semi-final of the Olympics last summer on grass and again in the US Open Final at Flushing Meadow last September.

Andy beats Novak to US title (Image: Getty Images)

The world No.1 responded in typical fashion, triumphing in their next three clashes including the Final of the Australia Open at the turn of the year when he won comfortably.

Yet of all the surfaces grass would be the top seed’s least favourite and Murray is hoping his victory at London 2012 will give him an edge.

He said: “I don’t know if the Olympic win will have any bearing. I have played him many times over the years.

“We have played so many points, so many close sets and so many long rallies.

“We know so much about each other’s game.

“I still don’t know exactly what it will be that makes the difference. But having played and won against him on grass recently will help me.

“I know what worked against him at the Olympics and hopefully some of those things will work again this time.”

Murray feels the crowd will have a huge part to play and while the 15,000 fortunate enough to have a ticket will be roaring him on he wishes the entire nation could be crammed into Centre Court.

He said: “When you are on the court you are in the moment but you know what is going on in the crowd and you are aware there are so many other people out there.

“There are loads of people who just queue to watch on the hill. It is just a shame the stadium isn’t bigger.

“The only time I am seeing people is when I am on the court but whether that is down to the recent documentary or what happened last year when I lost in the Final I don’t know really.

“When I am on the court the support has been unbelievable at the end of the matches and that is what you need if you want to try to win these events.

“It will make a huge difference if the crowd are right on my side.”

Last year’s attempt to win Wimbledon ended in tears when Roger Federer came from behind to claim his seventh title at SW19.

The British ace came up short as the weight of expectation appeared to hinder him in the closing stages of a tight contest.

But 12 months on and having survived two tough examinations in the quarters and semis Murray is more at ease with himself and the pressure on his shoulders.

He said: “The comparison with last year is something I never really thought too much about.

“But I definitely feel calmer today than I did on the Saturday last year.

“So hopefully when I get on the court this time I will be a bit fresher mentally. Sometimes nerves and stress can take a bit out of you physically so the calmer you can stay in the build up will help.”

Murray is also hoping Maggie and Rusty, his faithful Border Terriers, will prove to be a welcome diversion ahead of his mouth-watering showdown against the best player on the planet.

He said: “I like staying at home during the Wimbledon period. It is nice and relaxing and having the dogs around is good.

“But I play 99 per cent of my matches during the year without having them around and it doesn’t affect me.

“The one thing it helps with this year is keeping your mind off the matches or what is going on in the media.”

An exchange during his post- match Press conference following his last-four win over Jerzy Janowicz appeared to back up Murray’s own assertion that he is feeling more relaxed this year.

There was a question straight out of left field with an American reporter asking if he could bring Fred Perry back what kind of chat would he have with him?

Murray said: “I don’t know what I would ask Fred or say to him.

“To be honest I’ve never thought about that before.”

Not to be defeated the questioner persisted and asked the Scot what he thought Perry would say to him.

Sharp as tack he replied: “He’d probably ask why I wasn’t wearing his kit any more!”